Robbery at Mongla Port, 3 held

Khulna Correspondent :

In a daring robbery aboard a Bangladeshi commercial ship anchored at Mongla Port, three individuals have been arrested and stolen ship equipment recovered, according to the Bangladesh Coast Guard (West Zone).

The incident occurred in the early hours of May 11, at around 3:30 AM, when a group of approximately 12 armed robbers boarded the MV Senjuti in the Bays Creek area near the port. The robbers, wielding locally made sharp weapons, took the ship’s crew hostage and looted valuable machinery and ship components before fleeing the scene.

At a press conference held on Wednesday afternoon, Coast Guard West Zone Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Abrar Hassan, alongside Mongla Port Authority’s Deputy Director (Public Relations) Md. Makruzzaman and Senior Security Officer Lieutenant Commander (Retd) Md. Nazrul Islam, provided detailed information about the incident and the subsequent investigation.

Acting on intelligence and information gathered from the ship’s crew, the Coast Guard launched a series of raids in the surrounding areas. On May 27, three individuals were arrested in connection with the robbery, and a substantial quantity of stolen ship components were recovered. The seized items included various engine spare parts, bearings, batteries, chargers, and other essential ship equipment.
What initially appeared to be a standard robbery turned out to be a premeditated heist, allegedly involving insiders. During preliminary interrogations, it was revealed that some of the ship’s crew members – including the chief engineer – had collaborated with local criminals to orchestrate the robbery. The accused reportedly planned to sell the looted parts and split the proceeds among themselves.
Investigators noted that the crew’s motivation may have stemmed from long-standing grievances with the ship’s owners. According to statements, sailors had not been paid properly for six to seven months, leading to rising frustration and anger. The vessel had also reportedly been left in poor condition for months, raising further concerns about its management.
Despite the gravity of the incident, the ship’s captain, Sahikul Sahib, was reportedly unable to appear at the scene when requested by authorities. The recovered goods are currently being returned to the ship’s management, and the arrested individuals are in police custody as legal proceedings continue.